Dubai to hire thousands of Bangladeshi taxi drivers

Dubai Taxi Company (DTC), one of the UAE’s leading mobility operators, is in the process of hiring 6,000 drivers – mostly from Bangladesh – to manage its expansion as demand for taxi services grows in Dubai, the largest business hub in the Middle East.

A DTC team has recently met with Bangladesh Minister of Labour and Manpower Ariful Haque Chowdhury and other senior officials in Dhaka to start the process of recruitment, despite a labour ban on the employment of Bangladeshi nationals.

The decision by DTC – a Dubai Government business entity – to employ thousands of Bangladeshi nationals signals a shift and could open the doors for thousands of Bangladeshi nationals for employment in the UAE – which needs a large pool of semi-skilled workers and skilled professionals in construction, maintenance, industries, farming, aviation and infrastructure sectors.

The announcement has already generated excitement among many young Bangladeshis seeking overseas employment opportunities amid economic pressures and limited job prospects at home. Labour migration experts say the UAE’s expanding transport and logistics industry is creating strong demand for disciplined and experienced drivers, particularly workers who can adapt to digital transport systems and fast-paced city operations.

A Dhaka-based migration analyst noted that Bangladeshi workers continue to maintain a strong reputation in Gulf countries for their dedication, adaptability, and willingness to work long hours.

The modus operandi of the recruitment process has not been revealed yet. Thousands of private manpower recruitment agencies is expected to bid for the assignment which might become a very complex operation as each recruited driver will have to pass the driving test in Dubai before being allowed to start carrying passengers. This process could take between three to six months.

The recruitment process is expected to follow official overseas employment procedures. Applicants will likely need valid driving licences, professional driving experience, medical fitness certificates, passports, and basic communication skills in English. Authorities and experts are also urging job seekers to apply only through licensed recruitment agencies approved by Bangladesh’s manpower authorities to avoid fraud or illegal brokers.

Reports indicate that around 1,500 Bangladeshi drivers may be recruited initially, while the overall target could reach approximately 6,000 workers throughout the year. Recruitment interviews are expected to take place in phases.

“While many organisations would be bidding for the assignment, the question that needs to be addressed is – who bears the total cost of employment, driving training classes, tests, their air-ticket to Dubai, accommodation, food for the duration of driving training plus the cost of passport issuance, visa, manpower services, etc,” said a manpower recruitment expert, adding, “This could become tricky in this recruitment process. As it is, manpower is a very dirty business in Bangladesh, often seen as a mode of exploiting people with high migration cost.”

For many families in Bangladesh, overseas driving jobs can completely change household finances. Remittances sent by migrant workers continue to play a crucial role in supporting the country’s economy, helping millions of families pay for education, healthcare, housing, and daily living expenses. Meanwhile, Dubai itself is undergoing major transformation.

For thousands of Bangladeshi workers, the driver recruitment campaign represents more than just employment. It represents a chance to support aging parents, educate children, repay debts, and dream of a more stable future. In villages and towns across Bangladesh, many families still wait anxiously for overseas opportunities that can transform their lives.

However, a Bangladeshi worker usually spends between Tk300,000 to Tk400,000 for an employment visa – a very high migration cost for a construction or cleaning job that fetches Dh700-Dh900 salary per month – making the cost of employment very high and in some cases, uneconomic.

Bangladeshis are one of the largest foreign nationalities numbering more than 1.2 million currently living and working in the UAE, including more than 150,000 running their own businesses.

More than 14,000 drivers operate 13,000 registered taxis that criss-cross the emirate 24 hours a day and seven days a week to carry passengers – mostly tourists – from one place to another within and outside Dubai every day. Dubai received 19.59 million tourists in 2025, most of whom use taxi cabs and Dubai Metro to commute between destinations, unless they avail package tours.

Of these, DTC operates a fleet of nearly 7,000 vehicles. It reported Dh2.47 billion in topline revenue from 53 million trips that delivered Dh356.1 million net profit in 2025.

Every day, thousands of taxis weave through Dubai’s glittering highways, crowded business districts, and busy tourist hotspots. Behind each steering wheel is a human story, a migrant worker chasing opportunity far from home. Now, a major development in the UAE’s transport sector is opening a new chapter for thousands of Bangladeshis hoping to build a better future abroad.

Each taxi driver earns between Dh300 to Dh600 per 12-hour shift, depending on the timing of service and seasonality with around 30 per cent earmarked as their income. A cab driver usually earns anywhere between Dh3,000 to Dh6,000 per month – which translates to Tk100,000 to Tk200,000 per month – a decent earning for their families.

“Employment in DTC, is a lucrative affair and could be a dream come true for many simply due to the high level of income for a young man with humble beginning from Bangladesh. A monthly earning of Tk100,000 with investment of Tk400,000 makes it a lucrative proposition,” the expert says.

“However, these manpower agents could extract up to Tk1,000,000 for recruitment per person and there could be many queuing for the job. This is where Bangladesh Government could play a role in reducing the cost of employment and keep it to the minimum level. However, manpower agencies could flaunt the government directives.”

Officials from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment have repeatedly stressed the importance of safe and ethical migration, especially during large-scale recruitment drives where many desperate job seekers can become vulnerable to exploitation.

DTC recently announced a massive Dh1.45 billion acquisition of National Taxi, a long-established transport operator serving Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Al Ain. This is one of the reasons for DTC to recruit nearly 6,000 drivers from Bangladesh this year to support its growing operations.

National Taxi currently operates around 2,700 vehicles and holds approximately 2,500 taxi plates across the UAE. Once the acquisition is completed, Dubai Taxi Company’s share of Dubai’s taxi market is expected to rise from 47 percent to nearly 59 percent. Industry observers say the move reflects Dubai’s long-term vision to strengthen urban mobility as the emirate’s population, tourism industry, and business activity continue to expand rapidly.

“This acquisition represents an important strategic milestone,” DTC Chairman Abdul Muhsen Ibrahim Kalbat said while commenting on the agreement. He added that the company aims to strengthen its presence not only in Dubai but also in Abu Dhabi and other emirates.

The city has invested heavily in smart transport systems, ride-hailing technology, and modern mobility solutions as part of its broader vision to become one of the world’s most advanced urban centers. Taxi drivers today are expected not only to drive safely but also to operate GPS-based systems, digital payment methods, and customer service platforms.

Transport analysts believe Dubai Taxi Company’s expansion could increase efficiency and improve passenger services while strengthening competition in the UAE’s growing mobility market. Still, beyond the billion-dirham business deal and expansion strategies, the human angle remains the heart of the story.

And as Dubai’s taxis continue moving beneath the bright skyline of the city, thousands of Bangladeshis may soon find themselves driving not only through Dubai’s streets but toward new hopes and opportunities for the families waiting back home.